She nodded. "I heard you."
"So you don’t care?"
She pressed her lips together slightly. "It’s not that I don’t care."
His dark eyes remained fixed on her.
Noticing movement near the club entrance, she tried to pull her wrist free, but he didn’t budge.
She glared at him. "So what do you want me to do? Rush over and claw at Lin Shuyan’s hair while fighting over you?"
He paused.
Her voice lowered. "He Siyu, dealing with other women is your responsibility, not mine."
He stood frozen, falling into silence.
She frowned slightly. "Can we not talk here?"
With a grim expression, he pulled her toward his car, settled her inside, then circled to the driver’s seat and drove off.
The car was eerily quiet, the silence almost suffocating.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. "I just wanted to introduce you to my family."
Sang Ning lowered her gaze to her intertwined fingers, her fair skin flushed red where she’d been gripping them.
He reached over and took her hand.
Her fingers curled slightly before relaxing, letting his weave through hers until they were interlaced.
"Hungry?" he asked.
She mumbled, "Yes."
His thumb brushed over the back of her hand, though his tone remained stiff. "Then let’s eat."
—
Inside the upscale Western restaurant, the soothing melody of a violin filled the air. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the elegant decor.
By the floor-to-ceiling window, Zhu Jiani and Pei Songhan sat across from each other.
"What’s going on with you lately? Your parents said you’ve been ignoring them, and they can’t even reach you. They called me," Zhu Jiani asked.
Pei Songhan met her gaze calmly. "I want to call off the engagement."
"Is that so?" She smiled, unsurprised. "I figured."
His brow furrowed slightly.
Zhu Jiani took a sip of red wine, her lips curving wryly. "Because of Miss Nan, isn’t it?"
He replied firmly, "Don’t make assumptions."
"The moment I saw her at the banquet, I knew." Her smile was serene. "A woman’s intuition is sometimes just that accurate."
When someone had first sent her that video, she hadn’t thought much of it. Pei Songhan was a gentleman, kind-hearted—he’d have saved anyone in danger, even a janitor standing under a collapsing champagne tower.
But when she saw Nan Sangning at the Pei family’s banquet, one glance at the way he looked at her told her everything.
They’d grown up together. She’d spent years watching him, and she knew him better than anyone.
She’d thought he might let it go—he wasn’t one for upheaval. If it was just a passing fondness, he’d bury it and move on.
Yet here he was, asking to end their engagement. It wasn’t just a passing fondness, then.
A dull ache spread through her chest. She’d thought she’d moved on.
Pei Songhan stayed silent.
Zhu Jiani drained her wine glass and set it down. "Calling off the engagement is your decision. If you’re going to defy your family, don’t expect me to step in."
"I know," he said, meeting her eyes with unwavering resolve. "I’ll take full responsibility."
—
The next morning, 11 AM.
He Siyu had just wrapped up a meeting when he returned to his office and found Gu Xingchen lounging inside, playing a game.
He shot him a look. "What are you doing here?"
"Where else would I find you, Mr. Busy?" Gu Xingchen retorted sarcastically.
He Siyu tossed a file onto his desk. "Spit it out."
Gu Xingchen abandoned his phone and sauntered over with a grin. "Why else? I heard you publicly humiliated Lin Shuyan at your family’s banquet. She’s been crying nonstop since."
"None of your business."
"Come on, we’ve all known each other since we were kids. Why make things awkward? Your aunt asked me to talk some sense into you."
Gu Xingchen was grasping at straws—convincing He Siyu was impossible.
True to form, He Siyu dismissed him outright. "If you’re bored, go help your uncle dig coal."
Gu Xingchen: "..."
"Fine, fine. I can’t deal with you people."
"You people?" He Siyu arched a brow.
"Yeah, you people. Pei Songhan’s suddenly lost his mind too—demanding to break off his engagement. The Pei family’s in chaos. What’s with you guys? You’re all grown men, but suddenly acting like rebellious teenagers."
He Siyu’s grip on his water glass tightened. "Pei Songhan’s calling off his engagement?"
Gu Xingchen leaned against the desk, popping a gummy candy. "You didn’t know? Of course not—you don’t pay attention to anyone. Let me tell you, he’s dead serious. His dad’s furious. This engagement’s as good as over."
He shook his head, clicking his tongue. "Shame, really. I always thought he and Zhu Jiani were a perfect match. But I guess you can’t force chemistry."
"Still, with his detached personality, who could he possibly like? Might as well settle. This whole mess is so unlike him..."
As Gu Xingchen rambled on, He Siyu’s expression darkened, his fingers clenching around the glass until his knuckles turned white.
—
8 PM that evening.
Sang Ning finally left work.
Tomorrow was the shareholders’ meeting—her official takeover of Precision Manufacturing. The handover had been exhaustive; she couldn’t afford mistakes, wary of any traps Nan Zhenming might have left behind.
She’d reviewed every document meticulously before signing off, and now, after hours of work, it was done.
Her mind was both exhausted and oddly alert.
The climb was tiring, but never discouraging.
As she stepped out of the building, about to call Uncle Zhang, she spotted the familiar Range Rover.
Surprised, she walked over and opened the door. "What are you doing here?"
He Siyu, reclined in the driver’s seat with his eyes closed, opened them at her voice. "You’re done?"
She slid in. "I told you I’d be late today. You didn’t have to come."
He took her hand. "You still need to eat, don’t you?"
She hesitated—she was starving.
He started the car.
"How long have you been waiting?" she asked.
"Not long," he said casually. "Smooth handover?"
Her lips curved, eyes brightening. "Yes, very. The shareholders’ meeting is tomorrow. I’ll officially take over then."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Congratulations."
"Where are we eating?" she asked absently.
"Just picked a place."
Twenty minutes later, they pulled up outside a Western restaurant.
He led her inside, and the moment they stepped through the door, the staff greeted them warmly.
As Sang Ning entered, she immediately sensed something different.
The restaurant was adorned with flowers. A pianist played a soft, romantic melody, and the servers’ eyes sparkled with quiet delight as they welcomed them in.
The spacious Western restaurant was empty, with no other guests in sight.
The lighting inside was dimmer than usual, with most of the lights turned off, leaving only the flickering candlelight at the center table by the window. White tablecloth was strewn with rose petals.
Her steps hesitated for a moment, but he tightened his grip on her hand and led her inside.